Hilo Drowning 06/14/99

A 54-year-old man died Sunday (June 13, 1999) after he apparently drowned in waters off James Kealoha State Park in Hilo’s Keaukaha area.

The victim was identified as Roy Nakanishi, of Mountain View, Puna, a science teacher at Waiakea High School.

Police have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of Nakanishi’s death.

Responding to a 2:05 p.m. call, Hilo police officers determined that Nakanishi was swimming with a companion off Kealoha Beach when he apparently became tired, got out of the water and sat on the reef. Later, his companion found his body floating in the water.

A lifeguard pulled Nakanishi out of the water and gave him cardiopulmonary resuscitation until fire rescue personnel arrived.

Nakanishi was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11:45 p.m.